
It’s the little things. By the lovely Grace Farris.
P.S More simple pleasures and spring greetings.
We just got 2 young hens a couple of weeks ago, and the sheer excitement to open their henhouse
and find one or two eggs is pure joy!
Oh gosh, I am such an oddball, I guess… but I can’t get into Romance novels. I’ve tried. They just don’t do it for me! Everyone seems to love them so much, but when I try reading them they seem silly to me! Sorry! I am glad others can enjoy them.
I don’t have any top romance authors per se, but here are my favorite romance books:
1. Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
2. Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
3. End of Day by Jewel E. Ann
4. Breathe by Kristen Ashley
5. The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher
6. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
7. Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre
8. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
Oh my gosh I LOVE the Bronze Horseman!! A friend loaned it to me and it took me ages to crack it open- I was all, WWII? Russia? Really?!- but once I did I tore through it and it’s an all-time favorite! I read and loved many others of the author after that and The Girl in Times Square is also an absolute fave.
1. First bite of a vanilla cupcake with pink icing
2. Crisp autumn weather with a hint of warmth
3. Putting a blanket on my yoga mat to be extra comfy
4. New book and also last page of a great book and just holding it for a while
5. Standing on my tip toes to hug my teen
6. Watching same shows over and over with 10 year old
1. The smell of library books, especially the ones that have been sitting there for decades.
2. The feeling of leaving the office for the day, getting into my car, rolling the windows all the way down, and blaring some feel-good music.
3. That first melty bite of a chocolate chip cookie.
4. A really good, tears-rolling-down-your-face belly laugh.
5. Finding forgotten money in your pocket.
Outstanding list
Stuff I just love (springtime edition):
1. The smell of rain when it first touches dry pavement. And just the smell of a soft spring rain, in general.
2. Black tea with milk in the morning. Heaven! (Though I love this every season, actually)
3. When, after a long winter, you realize that you can step outside without a coat and it feels pleasantly refreshing!
4. The first sighting of geese as they arrive in spring! Hearing them in the distance as they make their way (to the place that I call) home again. Makes my heart sing.
Bonus: The feeling of spring in the air.
Spot on, Grace!
Last year was the first spring in my new house and when tulips started pushing through the soil I was ELATED. Every day I would run outside to see if they had bloomed and what colors they’d be. I have soft pink, yellow, orange and yellow, and bright orange. Me and the dog say hi on our walks, they’re my plant babies.
I know this feeling! This year is the first spring in my new house, and it’s been delightful to see what pops up. Pretty white daffs, and lots of little grape hyacinths, and I think I see a mass of irises starting to bloom. Considering I’ve lived in an apartment for the past 15 years, to be able to look out my back door and see all these spring flowers is blowing my mind.
I love this, Julie. So sweet. Thank you for sharing it.
Red White and Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston — if you’re wanting a romance novel.
I recently felt so honored when a friend brought me a stack of Romance novels during part of my recovery from surgery. She recently followed up with, “which was your favorite, I’ll bring you more.”
What a sweet gesture from your friend! Can I ask what else was on the list?!
I am going to Iceland with family next week and a friend there tells me it’s “not cold but very wet,” which I have translated as “Paddington Bear but make it fashion” and am stuffing beautiful rain coats into my suitcase as we speak.
Oh my, using this statement forever – “Paddington Bear but make it fashion”
Have so much fun!
Ooo, best time of year- not too cold, and you’ll just get to see the northern lights again! Not to be creepy, but I just read your comment on the weekend post too- Rosenkavalier is my favourite opera, speaking as a violinist who worked professionally in the opera for 8 years, and I aaaalways tear up during the Rose presentation scene, even in the pit. 😍 Hope you have a great time in your fancy ‘fit 🤩
Oh Neela, how magical! I had never seen it before and knew little about it before going in – I love opera but am very much still a newbie – and found it incredibly moving. Maybe my favorite visit to the opera to date?! I teared up at the Marchelline’s exit in Act 3. The women in that show!
Oh yeah Lauren, you definitely felt the feels that Strauss wanted you to feel 💖 If you’re getting into opera then definitely treat yourself to a Tosca and I love Verdi’s Othello too. So much great repertoire that we rarely get to play in a symphony orchestra.
If you look at the other person’s elbow when you high five, you’ll never miss!
Great tip
Nerdist link…the 2012 commenter names are so different from the 2023 names
Thanks for this tip–I forgot about reading it here long ago! Also: “workshopping high fives”–hahaha! Sooo cute!
High five/secret handshake goal: 1998 parent trap one!
OMG YES!!!
I’ve done it! I loved that movie as a kid, and my sister and I learned the handshake. Still have it memorized. :) Have fun!
What are some romance novel recommendations?
grace has the best ones! we will do a post with her :)
Hi Chi! Some of my favorite romance authors are: Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, Emily Henry, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Meredith Schorr, Jean Meltzer, Julia London, Lisa Kleypas, and Victoria Alexander.
This is a good mix of historical (my favorite romance genre) and contemporary. The Ripped Bodice is a great online (and brick and mortar, if you’re in the Los Angeles area) store – they have a subscription box, as well.
I have the same question!
Anything by Emily Henry or Jasmine Guillory. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. If you want more regency type but with characters with their own agency, the Union of the Rakes series by Eva Leigh is great.
I read Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld in less than a day. Such a charming book.
I like Mhairi McFarlane. Very British, VERY smart. They’re still satisfying romcoms, but there’s a wit and emotional wisdom there that really feels like a lighthearted book for adults (instead of YA, which I like fine, but sometimes I want to read books about people with a bit of genuine wear and tear on their souls). But don’t let it cool you into thinking she’s not hysterically funny
Seconding Jasmine Guillory!
Kate Spencer’s In a New York Minute is delightful! So is Sangu Mandanna’s Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (great chosen family vibes and slow burn romance).
Yes! I came to ask the same thing!
thank you for listening by julia whelan, book lovers by emily henry, and the unhoneymooners by christina lauren are my favorite romances and all are medium spicy :)
Stacey Lynn Hafner is a new novelist, and her first two books are SO GOOD – Tattoo My Heart and Tattoo My Love. Crisp writing, great characters, and super steamy love scenes. Highly recommend! staceylynnhafner.com/
Tulip names may be lovely, but have you ever looked at the names of Daylilies? My friends and I used to play a game called “Daylily or Porn?” because it is surprisingly hard to determine what is the name of a daylily and what is the name of a porn film.
hahahahaha
I have a similar game called ‘Dahlia or Lipstick’? Equally suggestive!
Hahaha i enjoyed looking up a few of these… Happy Returns, Primal Scream, Moonlit Masquerade
I love all of these things too and am now sitting at my desk smiling. Thanks for this happy and sweet lead in to the weekend.
This morning, I met a friend for coffee, and she smelled like...
With strong coffee in the morning, be still my heart!
Plus, two dogs and two cats.